Is Hoop Dee Doo worth $300??!!

[Hopefully]

We LOVE the HDDR. But it is a very personal choice, as others have said. Not everyone likes it, some even hate it.
Worth too is very subjective. If you are primarily CS budget folks, and the thought that you are paying $300 is going to bother you all night, I might consider skipping it.
It is every day "Down Home" cooking chicken, ribs and the fixins', It is not gourmet food. Is it worth $300 - not anywhere else for the food alone.
Is the dinner show outstanding - no, it is as described Corny, Upbeat, a little old. Is it worth $300 - not anywhere else for the show alone.
Would I spend $300 to go back with my family of 5 - in a heartbeat.
We went for the first time on our first trip with our kids in the early 80's. It was a blast that we all remember.
Last April I had the joy of going with oldest DS and his son and daughter as he shared the magic and made new memories with his own family. It made my heart glad that he remembered so fondly as to want to share it with his children too.
Just my thoughts. Good Luck in your decision.

 

[william4192]

It is unfair to ask if it is worth $300. No, it is not worth $300. Yet, it is worth $50 a person. Not sure if that makes sense.

HDD and Aloha dinner are the only two of its type at Disney. I never understood, with all the great material at their disposal, why they don't do a show like Alladin was at CA and have dinner.

 

[miller2470]

Is Hoop Dee Doo worth $300? Probably not. Is any meal at Disney World worth the price you are going to have to pay for it? Probably not.

If I had to pay $300 straight out of my pocket for Hoop Dee Doo, I probably wouldn't. But we were on the dining plan our last trip, so we used dining credits to pay for this meal. It seems easier to pay by credits.

Holy Smokes...we paid how much? We went last year on the DDP and I guess like anything else, you dont feel the pain when its credit and not "money" I would say that the show was good, but the food only ok, my 17 year old boys and 11 year old daughter loved it and said that they would like to do it again, only this year we are paying out of pocket since we are staying at the Dolphin and can't get the DDP. Therefore, we opted to skip that one.

 

[Imagination]

I enjoyed it (Yes it is hoaky). My niece did not. Then again she was being spoiled on that trip with every meal being a signature restraunt. That was 7+ years ago.

I think it is a nice experience for disney to provide. It, like many places can engender memories. Many people don't see the old western campground area(i.e. Fort Wilderness) if it wasn't for Hoop Dee Do. The experience is a family style meal with a country style show.

If you have a limited budget or time, then you need to ask what are you giving up in order to do this. If you had asked should you se La Nouba for the first time or see Hoop De Do...I would say La Nouba!!![No meal provided though]. But if the question was to see hoop de doo, or go off property and eat at Dennys.I would be asking how important is the money saved to your memories, happiness or fisical well being?

 

[hmillerbarilla]

We're booking HDDR for our September trip... but we'll be using credits. It has been great to read these thoughts on it though.

I've never been, and we thought it would be fun to try it since we'll be on the Deluxe DDP and can spare the 2TS credits easily.

I guess I'll be able to share my thoughts in only oh... EIGHT MONTHS! Can't wait!

 

[Alice28]

We saw HDD in March 2007. My DH DID get picked for the grand finale of the show- the end of to be all for those who have seen it. And for seeing that, and hearing my sons and my mom laugh harder than I have EVER heard them laugh- yes, it was worth the $200++ we spent for that dinner. I'll never, ever forget it.

I'm glad we did it- cute show, decent food, fun experience. I doubt we'll ever do it again, cause it will never top itself, but I think it's something everyone should try once.

 

[Sleepy]

Hoop Dee Don't!

I remember when it seemed everyone on the DIS were calling it that. Always gave me a laugh.

 

[Dervis]

My family has always done a Dinner Show when we went to Disney, and we really enjoyed Hoop Dee Do. The show was quite entertaining, but it was by far the worst meal i've ever had at disney, however, that is not necesarily to say the food was bad. If you want to take your family to a show, I'd suggest something like Sleauth's Mystery Dinner or Meadevil Times. Both are in Orlando, just a short drive from Disney, and completely worth the money.

 

[sturdypeasantstock]

For those who think Hoop Dee Do is not worth the money, I just went to a dinner theatre in Columbia, MD. Buffet before the production of The Sound of Music. Food started at 6:30 and you HAD to be done by 7:30 so everything could be cleaned up by the show at 8:00. I have never felt more rushed in my life through that buffet. After about 3/4 of the tables had been called for the salad bar (you had to eat the salad bar first), one of the two salad bars closed down. Only then could you get the "real food". We only got a five minute warning that the main buffet would be closed. I felt like I was on a marathon to stuff my face as full as possible before the show. It was not relaxing at all.

Cost for this was $60 per person and we had to drive an hour and a half for it. Drinks were NOT included, not even soft drinks. Cost for the four of us, including tax and tip was about $300. Plus, you had to shut up during the performance. I'd take Hoop Dee Do anyday.

This dinner theatre in MD - was it called the Lazy Susan?

 

[DisneyRN51207]

We're going in October with DH's parents. We went in 2004 when it was just the two of us, two college kids just dating. I can still remember when the cast was looking for "honeymooners" and they thought we were <memories>. I also tried to not go to this show because I could find better ways of spending 2 TS credits. Anyway, tradition overtook my cause and we're going anyway. It's not that I don't like HDDR, I just would prefer to experience something we haven't done before. If we were paying cash, I'd probably view it differently.

 

[mpls_mm]

We went for Thanksgiving dinner and did love it. i was not expecting the kids to like it but they were transfixed (4 and 8) They did not like the food, not sure why, but they brought them hot dogs and fries from Mickeys BBQ. They sent us home with pumpkin pies and we did enjoy it a lot. I am not sure if we will do it next time, there are too many other things to do, I might let the kids decide. The food was just okay and I love fried chicken.

 

[dandave]

Since I am from Myrtle Beach, I get dragged to the Dolly Parton "Dixie Stampede" almost every Christmas by one family member or another as a "gift" when my family goes there for the holidays.
The price for the Stampede is $49 plus tax for preferred seating and $43 plus tax for regular seating. We always tip on top of that. That is *the* most god awful experience that I believe I have ever been forced to endure, and I'm always nervous that one of my childhood friends will see me there and think I went of my own volition.
I actually enjoy the HDD, and the price is about the same.And it includes gratuity!

 

[Cee]

It is so worth it. But if you don't like to participate, ask to be seated in the
balcony. The seats are great and you won't be hauled to the stage.....I don't
think.

 

[all4fun]

As price-sensitive non participants ourselves, we were unsure about Hoop Dee Doo, but went because it was risk-free with free dining.

I still had trouble reconciling that I was giving up a dining opportunity at both Le Cellier and Chefs De France for chicken and ribs with a show, but DW wanted to try it.

The food was uninteresting but edible, and the show was as corny as expected.

I'm glad that we went so I now feel that I'm not missing out on anything. However if I knew more about it going in, I would have chosen not to do it.

I'd use my two credits (or a wad of cash) for California Grill instead.

 

[DianaPrincessofWales]

To do once, I think it's worth it. I am also quite thrifty and I wanted to go for years but could not justify the cost of doing it with a family of five. Then I went on a mother/daughter trip and decided that was the time to splurge just for the two of us. I loved the show and the food (I went hungry). Yes it was kind of crazy but fun. If you have that many questions and spending that much $$ on that many people maybe you should postpone. But I don't know your budget either. Guess only you can decide that. Have fun whatever you decide.

 

[CindyKansas]

Seeing my husband dancing on stage in a pink tutu was worth every penny we spent on the Hoop Dee Doo.

 

[disboo]

I agree with many posters - you are paying for the total experience, and it is FUN! We have been a couple times. Many years ago my then ~ 4 year old was picked to be in the show, and a few years ago my brother was the man teased by the girl (sat in his lap, twirled his hair, made him do a solo Woo-Woo!). Both times I couldn't have laughed harder. Everyone in the group enjoyed it (even my brother who hated to be singled out!)

We are taking two exchange students to the show next week (one from Chile and one from France) for a "real" American experience. I know they will love it!